Ice-creeper



(No Model.)

W. H. TORRENOE, Deod.,

- F. I Di- ToimEncE, Administrator.

101: CREE-PER. No. 309,747. Patented Dec..23, 1884.

M111 5 E5. 7 3111 B12 Q. 79% v ,1; 4. rw% qgmasm 7% 7 STATES A'rENrtries.

FINLEY D. TORRENOE, OF XENIA, OHIO, (ADMINISTRATOR OF WVM. H. TOR-RENOE, DEOEASED,) ASSIGNOR TO SETH R. GORDON, OF PARNASSUS,

PENNSYLVANIA.

ICE-CREEPER.

EPECEFXCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,747, dated December23, 1884-.

Applicatir n filed October 15,1884.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that WILLIAM HENRY TOR- RENOE, deceased, late a resident ofXenia, in the county of Greene and State of Ohio, was

the inventor of a new and useful Improvement in Ice-Creepers, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are planviews of the improved ice-creeper when attached to the heel of a shoe.Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views on the lines 00 x and 00 x ofFigs 1 and '2, respectively. Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4, exceptthat the roughened or barbed plate is raised from the heel in the mannerand for the purpose hereinafter to be explained. Fig. 6 is a detachedplan View of the creeper when in the position shown in Fig.

5. Figs. 7, S, and 9 are detached views of the different parts of thesame, and Fig. 10 is an edge view of the creeper.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to that class of icecreepers in which theroughened surface is reversible, so that a plane or roughened surfacemay be presented without removing the creeper-froin the shoe.

I will now describe the preferable method of arranging and adjustingthis improvement.

In the drawings, a represents the frame, formed preferably of metal, andcapable of being fitted and secured in a cavity formed in the heel of aboot or shoe. At one side or end of this frame is an extension narrowerthan the body of the frame, on the under side of which is a transversegroove or slot, 1) for the reception of the pintles of a hinged plate,

c, which is fitted within the frame a in such manner as to be capable ofbeing turned outward on the axis of the pintles. The plate 0,

being conformable to the shape of the frame a,

has at its rear a tongue, (Z, which fits within 5 the narrower part ofthe frame, and to which are secured the arms or pintles e. The plate 0is not integral with the tongue (I, but is made of a separate piece, andis connected with the otherwise.

(No model.)

tongue by a swivel, f, and is thus capable of being rotated on theswivel. as an axis. (See Fig. 8.) Thus constructed, the creeper isapplied to a shoe in the following manner: The parts are put together,as shown in Fig. 1., so that the pintles 6 may rest within the grooves12, and the plate a be flush with the surface of the frame. A recess isthen cut in the shoe at the desired spot, of size sufficient to receivethe frame a, and the frame is set and secured therein by suitablescrews, h, or The hinged plate and the frame should then be flush or ona level with the surface of the sole of the shoe. One side of the platea is roughened or provided with spikes or barbs g, and the other side isplane or otherwise so constructed as not to be injurious to any materialupon which the wearer may tread. The operation is then as follows: Whenthe plate 0 is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, with theroughened face of the plate turned inward of the frame, it may bealtered so as to present the spiked or roughened surfaceby raising it onthe pintles b to a position at a right angles to the sole of the shoe,then turning it on the swivel f one semirevolution, as in Fig. 5, andfinally, when it is turned into this position, shutting down the plateagainst the sole and within the frame. It

will then occupy the position shown in Figs. 2

and 4, the roughened surface being downward and ready for use on theice. If, now, it be desired to close the creeper, so that its smoothsurface may be outward, the same operation is repeated, the plate beingraised and given a semi-revolution, and then reclosed within the frame.Vhen the plate is lying on a level with the surface of the sole, witheither its smooth or rough side outermost, it may be bolted or otherwisesuitably fastened in that position in any desirable manner. It ispreferable, however, to use the fastening device which is illustrated inthe drawings, since it operates automatically, and is of greatconvenience. It consists of a leaf-spring, h, which extends underneaththe frame from the front part thereof, where it is fastened, to the rearand narrower part, where it passes directly under the butt of the tongue(I. As the plate is raised on the axis 6 e, the tongue d will depressthe spring h, and cause it to exert atension against the opening of theplate in manner as will be readily understood. This action causes theplate to be held firmly in po sition Within the sides of the frame, andprevents any liability of its being jarred out of place,and thus causingthe wearer to stumble. A suitably-beveled recess, (1, may be cut underthe spring h, to permit its free action.

In order to render the plate more easily opened, it may be provided withsuitable thumb-notch, i, and the frame a may be correspondingly cutaway.

The chief advantages of the ice-creeper here in described are itsconvenience of application and the effectual manner in which snow ordirt is excluded from its working parts. It is therefore unlikely to getout of order.

If desired, the frame a may be omitted and the plate be made to closedirectly against the sole of the shoe or into a recess therein.

I have shown the preferable method of hinging the plate 0 to the framea, so as to allow it a compound rotation whereby either surface may beturned outward. Any other mode such as a ball-and-socket jointmay,however, be used for the same purpose.

\Vhat I claim as the invention of the said \VILLIAM HENRY TORRENOE,deceased, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An ice-creeper having a hinged portion capable of being inserted inor attached to the heel or sole of a shoe, and aplate or extensionhaving smooth and roughened faces, said plate being secured to the hingeportion by a swiveljoint, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

2. An ice-creeper capable of being secured to the heel or sole of ashoe, and having a hinge and swivel joint, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

3. An ice-creeper consisting of a frame capable of being inserted in theheel or sole of a shoe, a plate or bar hinged to the frame, and a platehaving smooth and roughened faces, and secured to the hinged plate orbar by a swivelj oint, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day ofSeptember, A. D. 1884.

FINLEY D. TORRENCE, Administrator of l Vm. II. Torrencc, deceased.

\Vitncsses:

B. CLARK, GEO. D. TI-IORNHILL.

